The month of February, the shortest of the year, continues to gain increasing significance through its widening exposure upon becoming Black History month.
When addressing an all-White male organization on one occasion during Black History month, I was challenged to name any contribution of Blacks to society. I was more saddened than offended by the challenge to be so blatantly confronted with the generally assumed fact that American History has been so shamefully marked with omissions, distortions and blatant “lies agreed upon” (as journalist Tony Brown puts it). Such lack of understanding clearly denotes lack of knowledge–which generally denotes lack of interest.
How symbolic mankind and man who will historically assume bad habits and consume unwholesome diets until becoming sick and diseased enough to contaminate the entire environment before forced to seek and accept change-–no matter how gradual.
How ironic that Black History Month should fall in the month of love and affection, celebrated throughout the world on February 14 as Valentine’s Day. We constantly refer to the Baha’i Holy Writings which assure us: “In the world of existence there is no force greater than the magnet of love.” Only through such magnetism can the peoples of this nation and nations of the world become united.
We learn from history that we do not learn from history! Mankind has never been nor can ever be united through warfare and political negotiations by heads of states with different selfish interests to protect. World peace and unity can and will come only through “the magnet of love” – from individual family level to world family level. We have the erroneous assumption that once we achieve peace we will have unity when actually the reverse is true. Only through unity can derive the bi-product of peace.
Mere knowledge of this fact is insufficient in itself. Its realization, like any other, must be put into voluntary action – the essential KVA (knowledge, volition and action) theory of success. Once becoming cognizant of this prescription, there are of course those who attempt to reinvent the wheel of God’s plan already well oiled and in perfect divine revolution. Wouldn’t it appear logical to at least explore such a claim and possibility?
In his electrifying address to a National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) during his tenue, then Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder stressed the dire importance of the need for Black publishers to continue to struggle to accurately report news and information coming out of the African-American community. That need is even more obligatory today with the few remaining Black Press survivors.
Through modern technology as history is being more accurately recorded and revealed, the unbelievable historical plight and persecution of the Black and dark peoples of the world is becoming more widely exposed. And with it a clearer understanding of the staggering claim by Baha’u’llah, through the Baha’i Writings: “As the dark pupil gives sight to the eye, so shall the dark people (through persecution and indomitable love) bring religious sight to the world.” How many the Black slave “mammys” who nursed from their breasts White infants who they knew would grow up to continue enslaving their posterity.
“Each one must be a sign of love, a center of love, a sum of love, a world of love, a universe of love! Ah me, hast thou love? Then thy power is irresistible!” … thus ushering in a Happy Valentine World! (Investigate! – 1-800-22UNITE)
